Short Range Transit Improvement Plan

CITY OF HIGH POINT

Sounding Board/Steering Committee MeetingService Recommendations

January 13, 2015

Agenda• Review of Recent Project Activities– Revision of initial service recommendations– Development of SRTP

• Fixed-Route Service Recommendations– Revised service recommendations

• Demand-Responsive Service Recommendations

• Transit Infrastructure Recommendations

Goals and Objectives

• Exceed customer expectations • Improve service for workers• Provide better access to job centers• Emphasize safety• Improve reliability• Meet existing and future demand• Reduce travel time• Expand coverage• Attract new riders• Service populations most in need

Service Development Scenarios

• Promote key transit corridors• Reduce duplicative service• Eliminate unproductive services• Improve connection

opportunities between routes• Connect housing locations with

activity centers• Encourage the use of fixed-route

service rather than demand-responsive service

Service Span

Coverage

Frequency

Service Planning Puzzle

Fixed-Route Recommendations• Creation of a Service Hierarchy– Routes 10, 11, 16 – Key Local Bus Routes–Warrant extended spans and higher

frequencies

• Re-designate Route 17 as a crosstown route on Lexington Avenue

• Palladium/Deep River Circulator– Does not connect with downtown, but

allows for more service in this region– Transfer center between PART/Hi-tran

services

Service Modifications

Route Service Modificati

on

Recommendation(s)

10 Yes Designate as trunk route; enhance service span

11 Yes Designate as trunk route; enhance service span

12 Yes Suggest elimination of route; reinvest savings into system

13 Yes Replace Route 17 service south of Montlieu Avenue

14 Yes Minor route adjustment at Juanita Hills terminus

15 (Sat)

Yes Suggest elimination of route; reinvest savings into system

16 No Designate as trunk route; enhance service span

17 Yes Designate as crosstown route; realign service

18 Yes New service on Russell Avenue, realign service on Kivett

19 Yes Modify route to serve Prospect Street and south High Point

20 Yes Modify route to serve Green Drive and south High Point

21 Yes Suggest elimination of route; reinvest savings into system

25 Yes Modify route to serve Washington Drive and Gordon Street

PDC New New service in Palladium/Deep River district

Fixed-Route Service Plan

Boardings by Stop Location

Wants, Needs, and Realities

• Total number of trips for most local routes decreased– Tradeoff for new service to Palladium/Deep River

region, service adjustments to existing routes to cover cost of expansion

• Sufficient fleet available to satisfy service recommendations– Expansion of new services will require additional fleet– Average cost of a 35-foot bus: $500,000

• Initial estimates suggest 2-5% bump in ridership (conservative assumption)

• Span of service is the critical need

Funding

• Biggest challenge• Assumed a neutral funding scenario– No additional funding over the life of the

SRTP– Conservative approach

• Inflation costs (3% annually)– Increased costs for fuel, spare parts,

insurance, wages, etc.

• Consider various funding scenarios– Increased frequency– Increased span of service

Estimated Operating CostsDay FY13/

FY14Recommendation

s

Difference

Weekdays $2,285,100

$2,315,800

$30,700

Saturdays $129,300 $141,000 $11,700

Total $2,414,400

$2,456,800

$42,400Cost AssumptionsOperating Weekdays – 250Operating Saturdays – 52Cost per Hour – $39.42Cost per Mile – $1.35Overhead Factor – 1.24

Costs shown do not include fare revenues

Assumes 30 minute peak period frequency, 60 minute off peak for most routes (exception is Route 25)

Future Funding Opportunities• Fare increase• Student transportation fees• Employer partnerships• Advertising revenues• Federal funding programs– Section 5303 – Metropolitan Planning

Program– Section 5307 – Urbanized Area Formula

Program– Section 5310 – Elderly and Disabled

Transportation Program

Demand-ResponsiveService Recommendations

• Modify service eligibility requirements, particularly the passenger age requirement

• Institute a transit travel training program for seniors and persons with disabilities

• Establish a Community Service route to consolidate trips to common locations– Common cost-saving practice used by transit

agencies– Identify similar trip patterns, and create a special

service that consolidates trips to a common destination

• Consider a free fare policy on fixed-route services for qualified demand-responsive participants

Demand-ResponsiveService Recommendations

• Schedule non-essential trips during low-volume periods

• Create a bus stop improvement program for improved bus stop accessibility

• Consider a functional assessment test as part of demand eligibility determination

• Establish a supplemental service agreement with area taxi providers

• Shorten pre-scheduled trip booking period

Transit Infrastructure• Fixed-route vehicle fleet replacement– Vehicle procurement contract awarded– Rebranding opportunity

• Passenger facilities and amenities– Sheltered stops at high boarding/alighting

locations– Continue to invest in bus stop benches,

concrete pads, sidewalks– Placement of stops and amenities near

social service organizations• Upgrades to the operations and

maintenance center– Vehicle lifts, expansion of facility for fleet

growth• Intelligent transportation systems

solutions– Pilot project on Centennial, East Green, or

Westchester

Existing Bus Stops

Additional Recommendations• Conduct full bus stop inventory– Review warrants for bus stop sizing, spacing, design

standards

• Consider consolidation of stops– Increases ridership with faster service– Fewer stops result in easier to understand route maps– Lowers operating and capital costs

• Collect updated data on boardings by location– Prioritize bus shelter and other investments based on

boardings

• Consider capital infrastructure improvement fund– Sidewalks, lighting, street furniture

THANK YOU